Bronx, NY — Giovanni's, a pizza restaurant located at 76 East 167 Street in the Bronx, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following a health inspection conducted on January 27, 2026. The establishment received a score of 56, placing it well above the 28-point threshold for a Grade C rating. Inspectors documented three non-critical violations related to nuisance conditions and improper food contact surfaces.
Giovanni's restaurant inspection" width="400" height="225" loading="eager" decoding="async" class="article-featured-image">The inspection data was released by DOHMH on February 6, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
During the January 27 inspection, DOHMH inspectors cited Giovanni's for three non-critical violations. No critical violations were recorded during this visit.
Two of the three violations were cited under Code 28-01, which addresses nuisance conditions. Specifically, inspectors noted that the facility was not free from unsafe, hazardous, offensive, or annoying conditions. This code covers a range of environmental issues within a restaurant, including pest activity, structural disrepair, improper waste management, and other conditions that may affect the safety or sanitary operation of the establishment.
The third violation, cited under Code 09C, related to the design, construction, materials, or maintenance of food contact surfaces. Inspectors found that surfaces were not easily cleanable, sanitizable, or properly maintained. Food contact surfaces include preparation tables, cutting boards, utensils, and equipment that comes into direct contact with food during preparation or service. When these surfaces are not properly maintained, they may harbor bacteria and compromise food safety.
Although no critical violations were recorded — meaning no issues involving improper food temperatures, contamination, or other conditions posing an immediate health risk were documented — the combined score of 56 points resulted in the establishment's closure by DOHMH.
Food Safety Context
New York City's restaurant inspection program operates under NYC Health Code Article 81, which establishes sanitary requirements for all food service establishments in the city. The inspection scoring system assigns point values to each violation based on severity, with critical violations generally carrying higher point values than non-critical ones.
Under the FDA Food Code, which serves as the basis for many local health regulations, food contact surfaces must be smooth, easily cleanable, and resistant to corrosion. Surfaces that are cracked, pitted, or otherwise degraded can harbor harmful bacteria that are difficult to remove through standard cleaning and sanitizing procedures.
The nuisance conditions cited under Code 28-01 reflect requirements that food establishments maintain their premises in a safe and sanitary condition. These standards exist to protect both workers and the public from environmental hazards that could affect health or safety.
When DOHMH closes an establishment, the restaurant must address all cited violations and pass a re-inspection before resuming operations.
Inspection History
Giovanni's inspection record over the past three years shows a pattern of fluctuating scores:
- January 30, 2026: Score 0, Grade Z (Reopened)
- October 28, 2025: Score 28, Grade Z
- April 1, 2025: Score 25
- March 19, 2025: Score not recorded
- December 16, 2024: Score 29, Grade C
- July 9, 2024: Score 38
- March 3, 2023: Score 10, Grade A
The record indicates that Giovanni's achieved a Grade A with a score of 10 in March 2023. However, subsequent inspections in 2024 and 2025 show scores consistently above the Grade A threshold. The restaurant received a score of 38 in July 2024 and a Grade C score of 29 in December 2024. In October 2025, the restaurant scored 28 and received a Grade Z designation.
Notably, just three days after the January 27 closure, Giovanni's underwent a re-inspection on January 30, 2026, and received a score of 0 with a reopening designation. A score of 0 indicates that no violations were found during the follow-up inspection, and the restaurant was permitted to resume operations.
The Grade Z designation that appears in the history is assigned to restaurants that are awaiting adjudication or a new grade following a re-inspection cycle. It is an administrative designation rather than a sanitary grade.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on inspection scores:
- A: 0 to 13 points — Represents the highest standard of food safety compliance
- B: 14 to 27 points — Indicates moderate violations were found
- C: 28 or more points — Indicates significant violations requiring attention
Giovanni's score of 56 during the January 27 inspection was more than four times the maximum threshold for an A grade. However, the restaurant's successful re-inspection on January 30 with a score of 0 indicates that the establishment addressed the cited conditions promptly.
Residents can look up the latest inspection results for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH public database, accessible on the city's open data portal. Inspection scores, violation details, and grade histories are updated regularly as new data becomes available. The inspection data referenced in this article reflects information released by DOHMH as of February 6, 2026.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Giovanni's including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.